New housing figures have shown a South Lanarkshire disabled resident was forced to wait 24 years on for a new house.
And they indicate a rise across the board in the length of time people are waiting for help.
Now Graham Simpson MSP has slammed the South Lanarkshire Council over the findings of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, submitted by his Scottish Conservatives party.
Figures show 657 people in South Lanarkshire currently waiting for disabled-friendly housing, compared to 233 in 2017 – a rise of nearly 182 per cent.
It goes on to show an average wait of just over three years.
However, SLC say the figures provided by them to the FOI show all those who indicated on their application that they considered themselves to have a disability, rather than those who have specialist housing requirements.
Mr Simpson said: “Not only are there far too many disabled people waiting for the right housing here, that number has skyrocketed over the last two years.
“It proves the SNP has taken its eye off the ball domestically and allowed a housing crisis to affect the country’s most vulnerable people.
“The Scottish government clearly isn’t giving South Lanarkshire Council the resources it needs to address this problem.”
However, East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani said disabled residents deserved “more respect” from Mr Simpson.
She explained: “Many of the homes for rent in South Lanarkshire that are suitable for people with disabilities were sold off under the right to buy, strongly supported by his party, and the Labour Party, long after the policy should have ended."
She went on: “With the support of the Scottish government, South Lanarkshire is investing heavily in building new affordable homes.
“For the first time in years, residents in East Kilbride are seeing social housing developments all supported by the Scottish Government.
“If Mr Simpson is really sincere in helping people with disabilities, perhaps he should end his silence on the disaster that is Universal Credit and other Tory welfare policies.”
South Lanarkshire Council executive director of housing and technical resources, Daniel Lowe, said: “South Lanarkshire Council’s Allocation Policy is based upon housing need and applicants are awarded priority based upon their individual circumstances.
“Any applicant who presents with a serious medical need for rehousing, including those with disabilities, are afforded the highest level of priority.
“During 2018/19, 70 applicants with an assessed urgent medical need, which could include a disability, were made an offer of housing with the average waiting time being 486 days (1.3 years).
“The information provided by South Lanarkshire Council through an FOI did not relate to individuals with assessed housing need stemming from a disability.”
